AUDUBON THURSDAY BIRDERS SCHEDULE Winter 2018–2019

[Rosyfinch]

AUDUBON THURSDAY BIRDERS SCHEDULE
Winter 2018–2019

Read more in the CNMAS Newslatter BURROWING OWL

DECEMBER 6
Walk along through the bosque from the Paseo del
Bosque, Shining River Access Point, followed by a
holiday potluck, with Rebecca Gracey: 505-362-5095,
[e-mail].  Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the
parking lot located directly south of Paseo del Norte on
the west side of Rio Grande Boulevard. If coming from the
east or west sides of town, there is no exit from Paseo del
Norte to Rio Grande.
After the walk, the group will go to the nearby home of
David Watkins and Maxine Schmidt. Directions will be
handed out after the walk. The hosts will provide soup,
and the guests should bring other dishes and beverages to
share with the group. The lunch should end by 2:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 13
Walk in Calabacillas Arroyo with Maurice Mackey: 505-
897-0415, [e-mail] Meet at 9 a.m. in the
parking lot on the west side of the Rio Grande. The area is
reached by driving north on Coors, past Paseo del Norte
and Irving Boulevard, turning east on Westside Drive, the
first right 0.28 miles north of Irving Boulevard. Follow
Westside Drive about 0.2 of a mile to an open gate on
the left. Go through the gate and down the arroyo to the
parking area. If driving south on Coors from Corrales or
Alameda, get in the left lane and turn onto Westside Drive.
The walk will end before 12:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 20
Walk around the Tingley bosque ponds with Lefty Arnold:
505-514-9398, [e-mail].  Meet at
8:57 a.m. at the north end of the Tingley Beach parking lot.
To reach the area, drive west on Central Avenue past Rio
Grande Boulevard, then turn left on Tingley Drive. Take the
first right from Tingley Drive, and then turn right again to
the dirt overflow parking lot. This leaves the few parking
spots by the concession stand for people who want to
fish. The walk will be about one mile in length and will end
before 12:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 27
Walk around the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
with Leah Henzler: 505-280-2085, [e-mail].  
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Candelaria wetland blind in the
northeast corner of the Nature Center parking lot. A $3
parking fee, State Parks pass or Friends of the RGNC pass
is required per car. The visitor center opens at 10:00. After
that time one may use the restrooms and/or purchase
either parking pass. The walk will be about one mile in
length and will end before 12:00 p.m.

JANUARY 3
Walk the perimeter of Poblanos Fields Open Space with
Sarah and Tom Peterson: 505-228-8091,
[e-mail].  
Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the open space parking lot. To reach
the parking lot, turn north from Montano Boulevard a
short distance onto Tierra Viva Place, east of the Rio
Grande. It will be an easy 1.5-mile walk ending before
12:00 p.m.

JANUARY 10
Drive to see raptors on the eastern plains of Torrance
County with Bonnie Long: 505-379-1985,
[e-mail].
Meet at 8:20 a.m. for an 8:30 departure from
the Tijeras Senior Center on NM 333/old Route 66. To
reach the parking area, turn north on Tijeras Avenue, just
west of the Tijeras Library. A secondary meeting place
is the Pilot Travel Center located on north NM 41 after
taking the second Moriarty exit from I-40. Meet there at
9:00 a.m. The group will drive south of Moriarty  to look
for raptors. Lunch will be at the Chili Hills Restaurant
on the far west side of Moriarty, just west of the closed
McDonald’s. The group will be back in Tijeras by 2:00 p.m.
For those not driving the shared gas expense is $5 at five
cents per mile.

JANUARY 17
Walk in the Alameda Open Space in the North Valley with
Barbara Hussey: 505-385-1165, [e-mail].  Meet
at 9:00 a.m. in the open space parking lot on the south side
of Alameda Boulevard, just east of the Rio Grande. The
one-mile walk will end before 12:00 p.m.

JANUARY 24
Visit Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge with Linda
Otterson: 505-280-3123, [e-mail].  
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the refuge entrance on Second Street
by the refuge sign. To reach the refuge, drive south on I-25
and take the Rio Bravo exit. Drive west on Rio Bravo to
Broadway. Turn south on Broadway and drive to Desert
Road. Drive west on Desert to Second Street and go south
to Valle de Oro. The group will drive to different areas of
the refuge and then take short walks in the bosque. The
trip will end before 12:00 p.m.

JANUARY 31
Visit the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area in Belen
with Linda Heinze: 505-270-1779, [e-mail].  
Meet at 8:50 a.m. for a 9:00 departure from the parking
lot behind the Hawthorn Suites on Gibson and University
Boulevard or 9:45 at WWCA on NM 47. The walk will
be about two miles in length. Lunch will be at The Moltos
Italian Cafe, 143 Highway 314 SW in Los Lunas. For those
not driving the shared gas expense is $4 at five cents per
mile. The group will back in Albuquerque by 2:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 7
Visit Pueblo Montano Open Space for a walk along the
bosque with Glenda and Jim Morling: 269-420-8322,
[e-mail]. Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking
lot that is located on the south side of Montano and one
block east of Coors. It can be accessed from either street.
This will be a two-mile walk ending before 12:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 14
Visit the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge with
Judy Liddell: 505-220-7998, [e-mail]. Meet at 7:50
a.m. for an 8:00 departure from the parking lot behind the
Hawthorn Suites on University Boulevard and Gibson. A
secondary meeting place will be McDonald’s in Socorro
at 9:15 for a quick rest stop and just enough time to get
food to go. Please tell Judy by February 13 if you plan to
meet the group in Socorro. The group will depart for the
Bosque del Apache at 9:30. Bring lunch. A $5 entrance fee
or federal pass is required per car. The group should be
back in Albuquerque by 5:00 p.m. For those not driving the
shared gas expense is $10 at five cents per mile.

FEBRUARY 21
Tour Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area (part of the
Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex) with Ken Zaslow:
512-576-5309, [e-mail].  Meet at 8:20
a.m.for an 8:30 departure from the parking lot behind
the Hawthorn Suites located on the north side of Gibson
and east side of University Boulevard. The area is 50 miles
south of Albuquerque on I-25, taking exit 175, then driving
on the east frontage road and going north for a short
distance to the entrance. Bring lunch. For those not driving,
the shared gas expense is $5 at five cents per mile. The
group should be back in Albuquerque by 3:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 28
Walk in the Durand Open Space in the South Valley with
Becky Purvis: 505-877-2517, [e-mail]. Meet at
9:00 a.m. in the open space parking lot at 4736 Isleta SW.
From I-25, exit on Rio Bravo, drive west on Rio Bravo and
turn south onto Isleta Boulevard. Drive two miles to the
property on the east side of Isleta. The walk will be about
one mile in length and will end before 12:00 p.m.